County farm bureaus earn awards for service, innovation

SAN DIEGO – Outstanding programs of work in service to members earned awards for three county farm bureaus in California, while a fourth was honored for creating an innovative activity. The awards were presented during the 99th California Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting in Garden Grove.

Three county farm bureaus won awards for programs of excellence across five categories: membership, policy implementation, leadership activities, agricultural promotion and education and public relations.

Among county farm bureaus with up to 499 members, the Monterey County Farm Bureau earned “County of the Year” honors for a second consecutive year. In 2017, the county Farm Bureau hosted two listening sessions on federal farm policy, assisted in developing a maintenance program for the Salinas River channel, led formation of a Salinas Basin Agricultural Water Association on groundwater issues, provided guest lecturers at local colleges, collaborated with startup companies providing innovative agricultural products or services and organized a successful centennial celebration.

The Tehama County Farm Bureau earned the “County of the Year” award for county Farm Bureaus with 500 to 799 members. The county farm bureau organized educational workshops and training sessions for its members, arranged a bus tour of local agriculture for elected officials, cooperated in creation of a new groundwater committee, helped organize a farm day program for all Tehama County fourth-graders, provided grants to teachers who incorporate agricultural topics in classroom instruction and also celebrated its centennial.

Among county farm bureaus with more than 800 members, the San Diego County Farm Bureau was recognized as “County of the Year.” It managed a local water-quality coalition, provided members with its San Diego Grown 365 brand to use on local agricultural products, organized an annual Farm & Nursery Expo, provided grants to benefit school gardens, conducted farm tours for the public, operated two weekly farmers markets and maintained its reputation as a source of timely information for local media outlets.

In addition, the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation earned the Innovator Award, which recognizes a creative, forward-thinking project or program. The county farm bureau created a gun calendar as a raffle fundraiser, selling 520 calendars and giving away a gun each week. The activity provided the county farm bureau with a successful fundraising idea plus an opportunity to contact prospective members.

Also during the awards ceremony, 11 county farm bureaus earned recognition for outstanding membership recruitment and retention.

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 40,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5.5 million farm bureau members.